Are air carriers permitted to refuse to serve a qualified person with a disability?
It is illegal for air carriers to refuse to provide transportation to a qualified individual with a disability based solely on his or her physical or mental condition. To be qualified, a person with a disability must be able to purchase a ticket, get to the airport, and meet the contract-of-carriage requirements that apply to all passengers. Air carriers may refuse to provide transportation to any passenger based on safety and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, but they must do so in a manner that does not discriminate based on disability. Air carriers cannot limit the number of people with disabilities on a given flight. What must an air carrier do if it refuses to provide service to any person on the basis of a disability? The air carrier must give the passenger a written explanation for the refusal, including, where appropriate, the safety basis for the decision. The air carrier must provide its explanation within 10 calendar days of the incident. Advance Notice Requ
